The North Denes caravan and camping site off Whapload Road has been empty for several years and this week, a regeneration scheme aimed at bringing tourists back to the area will get under way.

Work is poised to begin on £2m project to redevelop a stretch of rundown seafront land in north Lowestoft.

The North Denes caravan and camping site off Whapload Road has been empty for several years and this week, a regeneration scheme aimed at bringing tourists back to the area will get under way.

Tingdene Holiday Parks, which owns and operates parks all over southern England including sites in Kessingland and Corton, signed a 99-year lease for the site earlier in the summer.

This week, work will start to transform to concrete building at the site entrance so that it can become a small shop and reception area for the caravan development.

It is hoped that by March next year, bases for about 50 static caravans will be in place so that the first caravans can be sold to private owners for occupation from next summer. The land to the south will also be available for touring caravans and camping.

Tingdene's director Paul Spriggins said: “We're excited that the development is starting. This area is certainly in need of some TLC but we're sure we can create something special.

“The first phase of work includes new pipes under the ground, work on the shop and reception buildng, modernising the shower and toilet blocks and getting the caravan pads in place. We hope that that can be done by about March.”

It is hoped that the investment in the North Denes will have wider benefits in north Lowestoft, with tourists likely to make use of local facilities including the High Street and Sparrows Nest gardens. The roads and grounds around the site will also be maintained.

Mr Spriggins said: “It will make a huge difference to this part of the town and we've had lots of letters from people saying how pleased they are that something's finally being done here.

“We've got a number of local contractors lined up for the work and over the course of the coming months we will be recruiting staff so the work itself will also benefit Lowestoft, as well as bringing tourists back to this end of town.”

The future of the North Denes has been embroiled in controversy for several years following legal battles over public rights of way, but Mr Spriggins said representatives from Tingdene have already been working closely with local residents.

He said: “We've already met members of the Protect Our North Denes Association to discuss our plans, and we'll continue to work with them in the future.”

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